Upbeat Delhi Daredevils face stiff challenge from RCB

Delhi Daredevils (DD) will aim at posing a serious challenge to a formidable Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) when the two teams square off in an Indian Premier League (IPL) encounter, here on Sunday.

Bengaluru:Riding high after an emphatic victory against Kings XI Punjab (KXIP), a rejuvenated Delhi Daredevils (DD) will aim at posing a serious challenge to a formidable Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) when the two teams square off in an Indian Premier League (IPL) encounter, here on Sunday.

After being battered in the first game, Daredevils have comeback strongly with an eight-wicket win over KXIP but they will now be facing RCB, who have also notched up a comprehensive 45-run win over Sunrisers Hyderabad in their opening game.

On paper, RCB is a far better side with the most prolific batting line-up in IPL that boasts of skipper Virat Kohli, Chris Gayle, AB de Villiers and Shane Watson.

Not to forget the presence of young talent Sarfaraz Khan and domestic heavyweight Kedar Jadhav.

But, Delhi has experience in their bowling ranks with Zaheer Khan leading the pack showing what is still left in his armoury. Currently India's best leg-spinner, Amit Mishra has time and again risen upto the occasion as he did against KXIP with figures of 4/11.

Together, they will like to stop RCB from going all-out on a ground, whose boundaries are too short for comfort.

De Villiers (82) and Kohli (75) added a whopping 157 runs in their win against Sunrisers and it will be a challenge for Mishra and Zaheer to stop the duo from sending them on a leatherhunt.

But, it is the Delhi batting that will be put to test as they floundered in the first match getting all-out for 98 and then went untested in the second game as the target was a meagre 112.

Looking for an elusive title, RCB will like to come out all guns blazing. For academic interest, RCB are placed second in the league -table with two points from a game whereas Delhi have identical points, having played a game more. With the league just starting off, the table is of little or no consequence.

Kohli, who set Chinnaswamy Stadium on fire by scoring a 51-ball-75 against Hyderabad, will like to carry on the good form for his team.

Considered as one of the best batsmen in the world at present, Kohli has been in supreme form, having amassed 273 runs in five ICC World T20 matches, bagging the 'Player of the tournament' award, apart from being named captain of the ICC World XI.

De Villiers, who cracked 82 off 42, would also like to continue the good work he had been doing for the franchise over the years.